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Mehluli Sibanda, Senior Sports Reporter
BULAWAYO businessman and philanthropist, Rajesh Modi has called on cricket fans in the city to come out in their numbers for the two Tests between Zimbabwe and West Indies at Queens Sports Club.
Speaking at a reception he hosted for the two teams at his San Marino Mansions residence, Modi said the visit to the country by West Indies affords an opportunity to the local cricket lovers to witness world class cricket action live.
“This tour in no doubt will offer an opportunity to our local cricket followers and young players to watch high level games of cricket for a longer period.
In this regard I want to encourage all the Bulawayo cricket community to come in their numbers to support their national team, at the same time enjoy top notch cricket,’’ Modi said.
He gave an assurance that his family will continue to extend a helping hand to the sport, especially at grassroots level. He noted that the tour to Zimbabwe by West Indies comes at a time when the local game was showing signs of improving, which means that the two Tests in Bulawayo should be fascinating.
“As the Modi family it is not the first time to host such an event so on behalf of my family and business may I assure you of our continued support to cricket in the future in our own small ways especially at developmental level.
“I am reliably informed by the technical team of Zimbabwe Cricket that this game has come at an opportunist time, since the Zimbabwe cricket team is on an upward trend in terms of their game so we should witness an interesting event in Bulawayo,’’ said Modi.
West Indies team manager, the legendary Joel Garner said Zimbabwe was as good as their second home since they were in the country in November last year and will be back again for the International Cricket Council World Cup Qualifier in March 2018.
“Zimbabwe is now our second home, not only were we here 10 months ago, we are here again and we will be here again sometime in March to qualify for the Cricket World Cup. So far it’s been a pleasant trip, we don’t have any complaints, at the end of the days let’s have an enjoyable series where we both leave with lasting memories and lasting friendships,’’ said Garner.
Bulawayo Metropolitan Cricket Association chairman Vumindaba Moyo, who is also a ZC board member, expressed his gratefulness to West Indies for constantly finding time to tour Zimbabwe. With the tour coming at a time when Zimbabwe is celebrating 25 years of Test cricket, he challenged the two teams to put up a scintillating display.
“The matches against West Indies present us as Zimbabwe with an opportunity to anticipate what our cricket will look in a few years down the line. We are at the moment in history where we have every reason to be optimistic, I hope Graeme Cremer and his players will prove we now mean business,’’ Moyo said.
Both teams attended the event as well as officials from ZC, Sports and Recreation Commission.
Zimbabwe and West Indies clash in two Tests, the first which got underway yesterday while the second starts on 29 October.
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